Tuesday, February 17, 2009

consider the source.

To begin to think of the implications of teaching media literacy in a library, my first thought is to educate those who come into any library setting about the sources of the books or media they are wanting to check out. The source for any media is many of things, for books it is the author of the book, but beyond that it is also the publisher and anyone else who may have funding production of the book...

Doing this I believe immediately can open the eyes of patrons to understanding the value of the messages of what they are reading. If a health/diet book is funded by McDonald's you can immediately tell that something fishy is going on with that book.

But other media can be broken down this way as well... for example, many local papers are funded by the grocery store advertising, and with equally less frequency there is not discussion of grocery stores/food safety in many papers because they do not want to lose this crucial funding. There seem to be a great load of articles on this topic at this website I was going to specifically link to this piece, but think it may be a bit to research/science based to prove the point I was looking for but I suppose I am doing it anyway: http://www.medialit.org/pdf/ADAmedialiteracy.pdf

Thinking about education of media sources, I think this starts to get the discussion going, determining who publishes certain video games or romance novels or whatever it may be is a great way to get people to start thinking about the media they are consuming, similar to the nutrition fact labels on food product, many disregard them and don't realize what goes into food anymore... the same is happening with our media sources.

Oh this reminds me of this commercial that i'm unsure if anyone who grew up outside of st. louis ever got to watch, but it was on the christian public station, 24. They showed sort of PSA announcements in between their shows, and they had a commercial (that i can't find anywhere online) that showed two kids laughing and enjoying tv and having some junk food, then this garbage man walks into the home and the mom says hello and the kids say hello, and then he dumps a garbage can full of garbage into the television, as if that was the food on which the television relied on to be able to work... and the kids were extremely happy to have this deposit and the garbage man leaves and they get to watch tv some more. Its a pretty strong message and it has stuck with me for quite some time, my BA is actually in media studies, and its interesting how things can stick with you. As in McLuhan he describes with music and hearing, "The ear favors no particular 'point of view.' We are enveloped by sound. Certain ways of learning are stronger through these media and it is important to recognize that as educators, and if we can somehow figure out a way to implement these stronger learning methods than we can perhaps really change and progress the way that people use their minds.

3 comments:

  1. When you wish to educate patrons who come into the library, do you just do some teaching on the spot, as you see fit, catering to each individual patron? Or do you provide occasional workshops, so as to educate numberous people at once?

    Is advertising the main source of media literacy? I don't think so; it's probably just the most prevalent one. As for consuming media, children could use parental/teacher guidance as to what they watch. Are parents being vigilant enough? Perhaps some more educational programs need to be broadcast during the hours when children are likely to be watching TV. Perhaps the Board of Education can produce some programs to be shown on TV, so that children will consume programs and advertising that will be very beneficial for their minds. Whatever happens, adults need to ensure that filters and other screening sources are in place to provide the best possible education for today's youth.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ugh..McDonalds making a nutrition book... I hope if that ever happened, I never have to see it.

    I remember in the Childrens Lit/Literacy class with Prof Ward,one night we all picked from a pile of 'problem books'. the book i chose - a book supposedly on mathematics by hershey. haha. i remember there being a chocolate sea, and mention of whatever number of candy bars could lay across the equator.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Media Advertisement and Influence
    I remember a program called "Scared Straight" that took youngsters who were on the brink of delinquency to visit inmates in jail who spoke candidly about their experiences and life behind bars. I think the program was a deterrent then but I'm unsure if it would work with today's youngsters.

    How come Literacy is not as advertised as entertainment? What would library marketing posters say?
    "Boys and Girls, get what you need at the Library! "Read! Read! Read! All the information that's fit to print" or "We Have What You Need" or
    'The Library Wants You!"

    School students are highly encouraged to adorn themselves in school uniforms as oppose to the belt-less trousers and unlaced sneakers. I don't know if we are winning or losing the battle, but schools are working diligently to make changes. I don't think they are actually telling students what do, instead, preparing them to exercise and make critical judgements about what is suitable for their needs.

    Some of those changes that schools are involved in are gender platforms under the auspices of Guidance Counselors, Parents and Teachers where students can discuss their challenges, concerns, ideas, and thoughts without shame, guilt or inhibitions.

    All too often we may think that the media is influencing our students but what about the influence students have on the media? What about the ways students rely on the media to validate them and make them "one" with their peers in what they view, hear, wear, see and say.

    I am hopeful that schools are winning the battle against the sometimes negative influence of the media but I believe there should be more programs and more real life mentors modeling and practicing proper age appropriate conduct.

    ReplyDelete